Cloud nine...
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Chapter 3 (Rinoa)
By Joey
As I knocked lightly at Squall’s door I thought about how much our lives had changed the past six months. I mean, everything had changed. Squall was no longer the shy boy I had known and fallen in love with, he had really grown up. The commander of Balamb Garden, the world’s hero… and not to forget… Rinoa’s little boy toy. It wasn’t with little sarcasm I thought that last part. Squall had chosen his leading lady and I was once again to play the supportive friend. But I’m okay with that. Really I am. Right… When no one answered after a few minutes, I tried the door handle. It wasn’t locked so I slowly entered the room. The first thing I noticed was that it was dark. And then I heard a noise. A little whimpering sound. I walked over to his bed, and even though I don’t like to admit it, I felt a little relieved when I saw he was alone. But something was wrong, he was sweating, twisting and turning in the bed, obviously uncomfortable. I turned on the little lamp next to his bed and kneeled down beside him and lightly touched his shoulder. When he didn’t seem to wake up I let my hand slide softly down his cheek that was moist with sweat and I knew this smell. It was something I’d felt many times myself, often in the middle of the night. It was the smell of fear. “Squall…?” Suddenly I wish I was a part of a fairytale. Where I could be the brave princess that had come to rescue her beloved prince. And I thought, why isn’t my life like that? Why can’t I have a happy ending with my wonderful prince? Why can’t I at least have one kiss? “Squall,” I whispered again, a little louder than the first time. He turned towards me, eyes still closed and I stroked a part of his hair away from his face. “Squall, you’re having a nightmare,” I said, still whispering tenderly. “Huh?” he opened his eyes and tried to focus. “You were having a nightmare. It’s ok now. It was only a bad dream.” “Oh…” We went quiet until he suddenly realized: “What are you doing here?” “I…” I didn’t know what to say. That I needed to see him? The old excuse with ‘A crises has occurred, we need you at the bridge’? Or the truth for once? “I heard a scream,” I said. It was close enough to the truth. “I figured something was wrong… I’m sorry if I did anything I wasn’t supposed to, I just…” He stopped my babbling by putting a finger over my mouth. “Hush, it’s ok. I think I actually was in trouble. The very worst kind.I guess I’m supposed to thank you for waking me.” “It was nothing.” I think we both realized right then that Squall was half naked. The cover had slid down and his quite impressive upper body was very visible indeed. For a second I envied Rinoa, before I started blushing. “I… I should probably go.” I stuttered. He smiled. He smiled! “Thanks, Quisty.” As walked out of Squall’s dorm I was on cloud nine. And I intended to stay that way. Rinoa, beware. The battle is on.
